Acapulco: Kristina Mladenovic's Shot Of The Day
Kristina Mladenovic has Friday’s shot of the day at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel.
Kristina Mladenovic has Friday’s shot of the day at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel.
ACAPULCO, Mexico – No.4 seed Monica Puig is into the quarterfinals at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel for the second time after a victory over Daniela Hantuchova, 6-4, 6-4.
“Today I felt a lot better on court than I did yesterday,” Puig said after the match. “I’ve definitely seen an improvement in my game during the past few days.
“And that’s really my goal, to improve every match and not feel pressure, and just go out on court and play the best I can.”
Hantuchova is currently ranked No.244, a position which belies the quality the former World No.5 can produce, and she employed her all-court game against the Olympic champion.
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Powerful backhand from @MonicaAce93! #AMT2017 pic.twitter.com/5HeWxwyEMu
— WTA (@WTA) March 1, 2017
Puig shook off a sluggish start in the opening set against Hantuchova, grabbing the lone break at 4-3. She had trouble closing out the set – a struggle she had yesterday against Francesca Schiavone as well. The Puerto Rican had two set points on Hantuchova’s serve, but was unable to convert. She fought off two breaks of her own before sending down a booming serve down the T to take the opening set.
“I’ve had a lot of matches these past few weeks, so having a bit of tension is normal,” Puig explained in her post-match press conference. “The body gets a bit tense after so many matches.”
The Puerto Rican’s big-hitting game clicked together in the final set, weathering five breaks of serve in the first six games to come away with the lead.
A trio of errors from Hantuchova gave Puig a look at three match points, but Hantuchova wasn’t ready to let go. She put together a massive effort to deny Puig five times with gutsy baseline play – and even earned a break point – but Puig took the match on the sixth time of asking for a spot in the Acapulco quarterfinals.
.@MonicaAce93 advances to @AbiertoTelcel Quarterfinals!
Tops Hantuchova 6-4, 6-4! #AMT2017 pic.twitter.com/GgL3uiJeQ9
— WTA (@WTA) March 1, 2017
Puig will take on Christina McHale for a spot in the semifinals after the American knocked out her countrywoman Taylor Townsend 6-1, 7-6(5) earlier in the day.
“Christina is a very good friend of mine, we train together a lot,” Puig said. “It’s going to be a tough match for sure. She’s been playing really well lately, and I expect a great match; I just hope to bring my best tennis.”
Also in action today, Kirsten Flipkens moved into the quarterfinals after her opponent Ajla Tomljanovic – author of yesterday’s stunner over No.6 seed Eugenie Bouchard – was forced to retire after the first set due to a right shoulder injury.
No.7 seed Lesia Tsurenko advanced in similar fashion; she was leading 6-1, 2-0 against Julia Goerges before the German was forced to retire due to heat illness.
Monica Seles Hosts Kids Clinic In Budapest
Former World No.1 Monica Seles arrived in Budapest for the Hungarian Day of Tennis, which celebrates the past, present and future of Hungarian tennis, and hosted a kids’ clinic alongside other Hungarian former players.
“It’s been fantastic to be invited by the Hungarian Tennis Federation to be a part of the WTA tournament here in Budapest, and also to participate in the Hungarian Day of Tennis kid’s clinic,” Seles told wtatennis.com.
“I hope we can spread the love of tennis and inspire a lot of young kids to pick up a racquet, and hopefully one day see them on center court.”
Budapest Champion Timea Babos & Monica Seles Auction Signed Racquets
Timea Babos captured the title in front of her home crowd in Budapest at the Hungarian Ladies Open, and she’s also helping to give back to her community.
Babos and Seles have donated autographed tennis racquets – the same racquets they played with this past week – which will be put on auction for two weeks after the tournament. All proceeds will benefit the Ronald McDonald House, the tournament’s charity of choice.
“I think it’s wonderful that the WTA tournament here in Budapest has a charitable side,” Seles told wtatennis.com. “And it’s great that the WTA has started a charitable foundation – I think it’s so important to give back.
“We in sport are very lucky to do what we love and make a living out of it, and anytime that we’re able to give back, it’s a huge honor and happiness in my heart.”
Johanna Larsson & Chan Yung-Jan Host Clinics In Dubai
Over in Dubai, Johanna Larsson and Chan Yung-Jan (Latisha) hosted a set of children’s and youth clinics to inspire the next generation of tennis hopefuls.
Larsson enjoyed some mini-tennis with children at the JP Morgan Kids Clinic and also had a hit with two promising juniors from the region, while Latisha hosted the Lacoste Special Needs Clinic, which involved children and teenagers who don’t let their disabilities hold them back when it comes to keeping active and enjoying tennis.
Latisha interacted with the children, posing for selfies, signing balls and answering their questions about what life is like as a professional tennis player.
“I always like coming to these clinics as it’s so much fun to make the kids happy and help them enjoy tennis,” she said. “It’s great to put smiles on their faces, and Dubai Duty Free always puts on a great show for the children.”
JP Morgan’s Breakfast With A Champion
Also in Dubai, hosts Mickey Lawler, President of the WTA, and former British No.1 Annabel Croft were joined by former doubles World No.1 Sania Mirza at JP Morgan’s Breakfast With A Champion.
In front of an audience made up of JP Morgan’s female bankers and employees, the event celebrated powerful female role models.
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The three-time Internazionali BNL D’Italia champion Maria Sharapova has received a wildcard entry into the main draw of the tournament in Rome this year.
The 29-year-old will attempt to reclaim the title she last won in 2015 as she continues her return to the WTA circuit. The tournament, which takes place from May 15-21, will be her third this year after she picked up wildcards for Stuttgart and Madrid this spring.
We officially announce the Wild Card for the 3 times Rome's Champion @MariaSharapova into the main draw of #ibi17! #tennis #WTA #Sharapova pic.twitter.com/bxrPrjI6fJ
— Internazionali Bnl (@InteBNLdItalia) March 1, 2017
Sharapova beat Spain’s Carla Suárez Navarro, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1, in the final on her last appearance two years ago, to win her most recent WTA title.
Magda Linette has Friday’s shot of the day at the Alya WTA Malaysian Open.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – The weather may have prevented a full day’s play on Wednesday at the Alya WTA Malaysian Open but the rain would not have dampened the spirits of Netherlands’ Lesley Kerkhove, who reached her first WTA quarterfinal.
The 25-year-old overcame Sabina Sharipova, 6-4, 6-4, in an hour and 19 minutes on centre court. Sharipova, 22, led 4-1 in the first set but Kerkhove was unfazed. “She didn’t make any mistakes until 4-1 but it was only one break,” she said. “I held my serve to 4-2 and then broke her back. From then on I played really aggressive, good tennis.”
.@LesleyKerkhove makes first #WTA Quarterfinal!
Downs Sharipova 6-4, 6-4 at @alyawtamo! pic.twitter.com/mvFivSNJN4
— WTA (@WTA) March 1, 2017
Dutch qualifier Kerkhove upset No.7 seed Elise Mertens in the first round in Kuala Lumpur, 6-4, 7-6 (4), on Monday and next faces Nao Hibino, who lies 89 places higher in the WTA rankings, after the Japanese received a walkover against Elina Svitolina. However, the World No.195 said she relishes being the underdog.
“I’ve played only higher-ranked players here. I’m No.195, I’m not that high. So every player is better ranked than me. I like to be the underdog, it’s nice to play like this.”
In the opening singles match on day three, China’s Zhang Kai-Lin defeated Japan’s Risa Ozaki, 6-2, 6-4. Zhang’s impressive first serve – she won 64% of points off the back of hers in contrast to 35% for her opponent – proved decisive in her first main draw win of the year.
Playing in her first competitive match in 13 months, Ajla Tomljanovic stunned No.6 seed Eugenie Bouchard in straight sets to move into the second round at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel.
Duan Ying-Ying had Thursday’s shot of the day at the Alya WTA Malaysian Open.
No.1 seed Mirjana Lucic-Baroni picked up right where she left off after Australia, battling past Belinda Bencic in straight sets to move into the second round at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel.
Kirsten Flipkens had Thursday’s shot of the day at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel.